Partial ceratohyoidectomy as surgical treatment for horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy: 10 cases (2010-2021).

The research examines the outcomes of horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (THO), a type of joint disorder, treated with partial ceratohyoidectomy, a surgical process that removes part of the ceratohyoid bone. The study concluded that this treatment method benefits these affected horses, with most of them returning to their previous work post-surgery.

Research Methodology

• The study reviewed medical records from two institutions for cases of THO in horses that were treated with partial ceratohyoidectomy between the years 2010 and 2021.
• Details captured included the horses’ history, symptoms, diagnostic tests results, prescribed medications, and details related to their surgeries.
• Only horses with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up after their treatment were included in this study.
• These horses underwent additional neurologic and imaging examinations that involved radiography and CT scans, where possible.

Findings and Conclusions

• In the study, 10 horses with THO were treated using partial ceratohyoidectomy, with the majority of surgeries being pre-planned. In two cases, planned complete ceratohyoidectomies had to be transitioned to partial procedures due to complications during the surgery.
• Postoperative complications were common in the cases that had to be transitioned, which included airway obstruction, tongue mobility issues, and hemorrhage. Only one horse that underwent a planned surgery experienced a postoperative complication, rhabdomyolysis, a condition where damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly.
• All complications were resolved before the discharge of the horses from the hospital.
• Every horse showed improvement in neurological signs after surgery, with two horses experiencing complete resolution.
• Follow-up radiographic examinations were performed on 9 horses, with 6 also receiving head CT scans. The images confirmed a space between the ceratohyoid and basihyoid bones in all 9 horses. Three horses were found to have either ceratohyoid or basihyoid bones proliferation.
• The horses that experienced unilateral disease (9 out of 10) were able to return to their previous work, and the one horse that had a bilateral ailment was retired.

The study concluded that partial ceratohyoidectomy presents a viable surgical treatment option for horses with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, with similar clinical outcomes to those found in reports on full ceratohyoidectomy.